PULLING OFF THE 5K/10K double, last accomplished by Stanford’s Ky Robinson in 2023, was never going to be easy for New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel. The Eritrean junior overcame a side stitch on Wednesday to take the 10, and in Friday’s 5000, he faced fresh legs from the likes of Wake Forest’s Rocky Hansen and Villanova’s Marco Langon.
Yet, Samuel made it look pretty easy, taking command of the race late and dispensing his competitors with the same devastating kick that won the 10. He romped to a 13:38.93 victory to cap one of the most dominant seasons in NCAA history, preceded by titles in cross country and the indoor 5K.
He let others set the early pace, most notably Louisville frosh Elsingi Kipruto, who tried the alternating fast lap/slow lap strategy. Samuel grew weary of that (“Sometimes that hurts more than the very smooth space”) and surged to the front at 3K.
A lap later, Oregon junior Simeon Birnbaum, an hour and a half removed from a dominating 1500 win, left the track. With that threat gone, Samuel ratcheted the pace down, dropping from 65.49 to 62.86 and then 61.39. Just before 4K, a pack of 5 separated, composed of Samuel, Arkansas’s Ernest Cheruiyot, Kipruto, Hansen and Langon.
Similar to the 10K, Samuel received challenges. With 550 remaining, Langon made his bid. Seventy-five meters later, Hansen also charged, pushing Samuel to 3rd.
As Kipruto and Cheruiyot dropped on the back straight, Samuel revived and swept back into the lead. Hansen covered the move while Langon paid the price for his bravery.
For a moment, it seemed like Hansen had the answer, but not quite. Samuel gradually stretched his lead down the final stretch. Hansen clocked 13:39.91. Samuel closed in 55.53 versus Hansen’s 56.76.
Kipruto came 3rd in 13:42.58, while Langon faded to 4th in 13:42.77.
Samuel credited extra speed and strength training for the improved kick that won both races.
“My speed is really growing up,” he said. “If you guys see my freshman and sophomore years, I got four runner-ups, and I just lost all of them at the bell lap.
“After the season, we just had a really good talk with my coach [Darren] Gauson and my strength coach, Russ [McCarthy], and we just decided we need to work on my strength.”
Don’t look for Samuel on the summer circuit or in the pro ranks.
“I really had a long season. I’m really tired now, so I’m gonna take off, maybe two weeks or something, and I’m gonna start back for cross country.… I’ll come back next year.”
MEN’S 5000 RESULTS
FINAL (June 12)
1. *Habtom Samuel’ (NM-Eri) 13:38.93 (55.53, 1:57.88, 4:00.58)
(33.59, 74.64 [1:48.23], 66.10 [2:54.33], 67.96 [4:02.29], 74.50 [5:16.79], 69.60 [6:26.39], 63.61 [7:30.00], 65.49 [8:35.49], 62.86 [9:38.35], 61.39 [10:39.74], 61.31 [11:41.05], 62.35 [12:43.40], 55.53);
2. *Rocky Hansen (WF) 13:39.91 (56.76, 1:58.41, 4:01.17);
3. ***Elsingi Kipruto’ (Louis-Ken) 13:42.58 (58.91, 2:00.84, 4:03.38);
4. *Marco Langon (Vill) 13:42.77 (59.77, 2:01.16);
5. *Ernest Cheruiyot’ (Ar-Ken) 13:44.52;
6. *Brian Musau’ (OkSt-Ken) 13:47.18;
7. *Pierre Attiogbe (Corn) 13:47.43;
8. *Isaac Hedengren (BYU) 13:48.84; 9. **Evans Kurui’ (WaSt-Ken) 13:51.49; 10. **Robin Bera’ (IaSt-Ken) 13:51.83; 11. *Denis Kipngetich’ (OkSt-Ken) 13:52.05; 12. Myles Hogan (Prin) 13:52.05; 13. Cael Grotenhuis (NnAz) 13:57.00; 14. ***Tayvon Kitchen (BYU) 13:57.42; 15. Will Daley (Va) 13:59.78; 16. Luke Tewalt (Or) 14:01.28; 17. *Charlie Ortmans (Harv) 14:03.17; 18. Ben Shearer (Ar) 14:05.56; 19. **Ethan Edgeworth (Tn) 14:06.32; 20. Gary Martin (Va) 14:10.63; 21. Justin Wachtel (Va) 14:14.03; 22. *Taha Er Raouy’ (EnKy-Mor) 14:20.19; 23. Matias Reynaga’ (Ga-Arg) 14:22.83;… dnf—*Simeon Birnbaum (Or).
